Earthquakes claimed more than 780,000 lives in the past decade, accounting for nearly 60% of all disaster-related deaths, according to a study published in The Lancet.

"In addition to these deaths, earthquakes have directly affected another two billion people in this period," it added.

The deadliest quake was the 12 January 2010 7.0-magnitude event in Haiti which killed 316,000 people.

This was followed by the 26 December 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, generated by a 9.1-magnitude temblor, in which 227,000 people died.

Third-ranked was the 12 May 2008 7.9-magnitude quake in south-western China's Sichuan province, which inflicted a death toll of 87,500.

Health priority

The review study seeks to give emergency responders and policymakers a snapshot of the scale of earthquakes as a health priority, and to warn doctors about the kind of injuries they are likely to confront.

"Massive earthquakes can result in casualty rates ranging from 1% to 8% of the at-risk population," it said.

"The reported ratios of death-to-injury vary, but across many studies seems to be about 1-to-3."

The death toll unfurls in waves, starting with immediate fatalities from falling buildings, which is followed several hours later as people die from catastrophic injuries to internal organs, says the investigation.

A third wave occurs in the days to weeks afterwards among people with sepsis and multiple organ failure.

Main injuries

Among survivors, the main injuries are crush-related damage to the kidneys, liver and spleen, followed by spinal damage, bone fractures and lacerations.

Children are the most vulnerable group, accounting for between 25% and 53% of earthquake patients.

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